Photographic roll holder



Sept. 6, 1955 c. E. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC ROLL HOLDER Original Filed July 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m m CLARE/VCE. EL WO0D SMIT/ ATORIVEY Sept. 6, 1955 c. E. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC ROLL HOLDER Original Filed July 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 6, 1955 c. E. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC ROLL HOLDER Original Filed July 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Unted States Patent PH'IOGRAPHIC RLL HOUDER Clarence Elwoed Smith, Recheser,

Graflex, ware N. Y., assigner te Inc., Rechester, N Y., a eorperafien of Dela- 6 Claims. er. sss4 The present nventien relates te film helders fer use en photegraphic cameras, and, more partieularly te 2. roll film helder that may be remevably meunted en a cenventional type of camera equipped with a mevable fecusing panel. This applicatien is a divisien of my pending U. S. applicaten Serial Ne. 186,628, filed uly 25, 1949, now Patent Ne. 2,588,054, issued March 4, 1952.

There are many fine cameras knewn which are built te use film packs er plate bolders. in these cameras, the fecusing panel is so cennected te the back that it can be meved away frem the back, after the camera is fecused, te permit insertien between the panel and the back of a film pack adapter, a out-film magazine er the like. Attempts have been made te make roll film helders which weuld be suitable fer use en such cameras but all, nsefar as I know, have been unsatisfactery ene way or anether. Separate cameras have had te be ernployed heretefere, therefere, for roll film helders.

One object of the present inventien is te provide a roll film helder that can be used en a camera which has a mevable focusing panel.

Anether object of the inventien is te provide a roll film helder in the form of a whelly light--tight package that may readily be attached te er remeved frem a camera and that when in eperating pesitien will held the film in flat cendition at the fecal plane of the camera.

Another object of the invention is te provide a roll film helder havng a film speel carriage for carrying the supply and take-up speels, which itself may be remeved from the film helder, thus previding an easy means ef loading film into the roll film helder.

Other ebjects of the inventien are te provide a remev able roll film helder which is simple in constructien; cenvenient te use, that is easy te lead and unlead without scratching er otherwise marring the film surface, and

that may readily be attached te er remeved frem a camera.

Stll ether ebjects of the inventien will be apparent hereinafter frem the specificatien and frem the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isemetric view of a roll film helder een structed according te one embediment of the inventien and showing the helder closed;

Fig. 2 is an isemetric view showing the film helder open with the speel carriage remeved therefrem;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dark slde used with this helder;

Fig. 4 is an isemetric view of the film speel carriage with the film speels remeved therefrom;

Fig. 5 is an isemetric view similar te Fig. 4 but shewing the film speels in place and the film weund elf of the supply speel fer the number 1 exposure;

Fig. 6 is a tep plan view of the film speel car1iage with the film speels remeved;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the base assembly of the helder, the cover, film speel carrage and dark slide having been remeved therefrom;

Patented Sept. 6, 1955 Fig. 8 is a view of ths assembly leeking at the left hand end thereof;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectien of the film spoel carriage taken in a plane parallel te the plane of Fig. 6 het on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectien en the line 16-10 of Fig. 7 leeking in the direction of the arrews; and

Fig. 11 is a sectien en a semewhat enlarged scale en the line 11-11 of Fig. 7 leeking in the direction of the arrews.

Referring now te the drawings by numerals of reference, 2l) denetes generally the roll helder base; 21 is the roll helder cover; and 22 (Fig. 4) is the film spoel carriage. The cover 21 is hinged te the base by means of hinge 23 (Fig. 2). The carriage 22 is adapted te be remevably secured between the cover 21 and the base 21), the cover being swingable abeut its hinge te permit the carriage te be remeved frem er te be re placed epen the base.

The carrage 22 is in the form of a Ushaped frame having a bottem panel 25 (Figs. 4 and 6) and upstanding side walls 26 and 27. The bettem panel 25 ferms a film pressure pad te held the film in the fecal plane of the camera after the carriage is assembled in the roll helder and the roll helder has been attached te the camera.

Secured te the side wall 26 by rivets 28 (Figs. 4 and 6) is a leaf spring 3ll. The side wall 26 is provided with twe spaced circular epenings 31 and 32. Meunted upen the spring 30 and in alignment with the openings 31 and 32 are the sheulder studs 33 and 34. Stud 33 ferms a hearing fer ene end of a take-up spoel 35 (Fig. 5); and stud 34 forms a hearing fer ene end of the supply speel 36. The eppesite end of the take-up spoel is adapted te be cennected te and supported by the speel driving key 37 (Figs. 6 and 9). The eppesite end of the supply speel is adapted te be carred by the hearing end 38 of a screw 39.

Between the two side walls 26 and 27 are mounted the idler rollers 46 and 41 (Figs. 4, 6 and 9). The idler roller 46 is provided at oppesite ends with stud shafts er trunniens 42 and 43 (Fig. 6) that fit intesuitable jour nal heles in the walls 26 and 27, respecrively, te rotatably support the roll en the carriage 22. Roller 41 is similarly meunted in the walls 26 and 27.

Attached te the wall 27 of the carriage by machine screws 44 (Fig. 9) is a cover plate 45. Between the wall 27 and the cover plate 45 there is meuntecl a flat supperting plate 46. This is secured in spaced relatien te the side wall 27 of the carriage by means of screws 47 and 39 and the bushings 43 and 49. The bushings 48 and 49 surround the screws 47 and 39, respectively, and are interpesed between the side wall 27 and the supperting plate 46.

The plates 27 and 46 ferm supperts fer and heuse het-ween them the film advancing mechanism, the eX- posure counter mechanisrn, etc. This is all described in detail and claimed in my parent application Serial No. 106,628 abeve mentiened and need not be descrbed, therefere, here in detail. Reference will be made here enly te these parts shewn in the drawings of the present applicatien.

The driving key 37 is carried by a shaft 50 which is jeurnaled in aligned heles in plates 27 and 46. This shaft has a wide-faced sper pinien 51 integral with it; and it has a splned perten 53 upon which is meunted a ratchet wheel 52. The shaft 551) is adapted te be retated by a kneb 55 which has a bushing 57 secured in it that threads ente the enter end of the shaft 50. The cover plate 45 has a recess er aperture in it te receve the inner end of the kneb 57.

The plates 27 and 46 serve as supperts, also, r"er a short shaft which is mounted parallel to the shaft S. This shaft has a gear 61 splined to it and a pinion 62 integral with it. The gear 61 meshes with the pinion 51 of the shaft 56 so that the shaft 69 is rotated on rotation of the knob 55.

Journaled in the supporting plate 46 is a hubmember 65 to which there is secured an interrupted spul gear 66. This gear is adapted to mesh with the pinion 62 of shaft 6ll. It has a portion of its periphery without teeth. Integral with the hub portion 65 is a notched index plate 67. Also integral with the hub mernber 65 is a carn 625. Secured to the hub member 65 by means of the screw 6% is the counter dial 79. The dial is held against rotation relative to the hub member 65 by a l:ey (not shown). The cover plate has a hole or recess 67' in it to receive the counter dial.

The counter dial 70 is graduated, as shown in Figs. l. 4 and 5, in accordance with the number of pictures that may be made from the roll of film adapted te be carried by the film holder. This dial 76 is adapted to read against an indexing mark provided on a lug 71 which is intcgral with the cover plate 45.

The index plate 67 is provided with a plurality of notches which are spaced unequal dstances apart. These notches correspond in number to the number of exposures on the film which is to be used in the camera. They are adapted to be engaged successively by the hooked end (not shown) of a lever that is pivotally mounted on the shaft 6% and that is also shaped to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 52. The lever 75 is formed with a projecting end 73 (Figs. l, 4 and 6) which extends upwardly through a notch in the cover plate 45. By pressing on this projection 73, as has been described fully in my parent application No. 106,628, the loei; lever 75 may be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 52 and index plate 67 to permit film transport by rotation of knob 55.

The lock lever 75, as has been described fully in my patent application No. 106,628, not only holds the ratchet wheel 52 and, through it, the film take-up spool 35 (Fig. 5) in any position to which it has been ad vanced, but prevents accidental movernent of the knob 55 in a counter-clockwise drection while any of the exposable part of the film is in position to be exposed.

Secured in any suitable marmer to the hub 91 which is rotatable on the bushing 49, is a lever 99 The lever 9ll is constantly urged into engagement with the periphery of the cam 68 by a coil spring 92. This spring surrounds the bushing 49 between the plate 46 and a collar 96 that is formed integral with the bushing. One end of the spring is hooked over a lug formed on the plate 46 and the opposite end is anchored in a lug forrned on the lever. Lever 9) operates to adxance hub member 65 and with it counter 79, and take-up spool 35 to the position of first exposure, all as has been described in my patent application above mentioned. The film advancing mechanism forms no part of the invention claimed herein.

The cover plate 45 is provided with a step or ridge 109 adjacent and parallel to the supporting plate 27 and spaced therefrom. This ridge and the plate 27 bound a recess 110 which is adapted to cooperate with tongues formed in the base of the holder and in the cover of the holder, respectively, to orm a light-tight fit between the film carriage, the base, and the cover, as Will be described further hereinafter.

Attached to the wall 26 of the carriage by screws 112 (Figs. 4 and 6) is a cover plate 115. The cover plate 115 serves to cover up the outside of the wall 26 and enclose the leaf spring 36. The cover plate 115 is formed with a step 01 ridge 119 adjacent and parallel to the supporting plate 26. This step 119 and the plate 26 bound a recess or groove 116 that is adapted to receive cooperating tongues on the base 20 and cover 21 to provide a light-tight fit between the film carriage, the

in place on the base 1 base, and the cover as Will be described further hereinafter.

To the bottom member er pressure pad 25 of the film spool carriage there is attached a leaf spring 129 (Figs. 4 and 6). This is secured between its ends by means rivets 121 to the bcttom panel 25. The spring member is adapted to contact the peripheries of the two film spools 35 and 36 and provide a slight tension on these two spools.

The base of the film holder is in the form of a casting 125 (Figs. 2, 7, 10 and 11) of suitable shape which is secured to a second casting 1 6 (Figs. 11 and 7) by rivets 129.

The casting 125 has a rectangular grooxe 127 (Fig. 10) in it Which extends all around it adjacent to but spaccd frora the outer edges of the casting. lnto this groovc there fits a projection or tongue 128 formed on the casting 126. The tongue 123 serves to align the two parts o the base and to reader the assembly lighttignt. The castings 125 and 126 are so made that there is a space 13% provided between them nto which the dark slide (Fig. 3) may slide. The casting 125 is provided with a '-.veli 136 (Fig. 11), and the casting 126 is provided with a registering rccess 138 adapted to receive one end of a conventional light valve 137. The

ether end of this valve is secured in conventional manner to the casting 126.

The castings 125 and 126 have aligned exposurc opeaings and 141 (Figs. 2, l0 and 11) in them through wnich the light from the camera may pass to the film in the film holder after the film holder has been secured to the camera and after the dark slide has been removed from the film holder. Lig'at valve 137 prevents any light from following along the dark slide or along the slot 136 which receives the dark slide, and reaching the sensitized film. The darl slide is provicled with the usual hand-grip 138 (Fig. 3) which is attached to it in any suitable marmer as by means of rivets 139.

Orie end of the casting 126 is formed with an up standing rectangular cross member 145 (Figs. 2, 10 and 11). Te this upstanding cross member 145 is fastenecl by means of rivets 147 one part 14-6 of the hinge 23 oy means of which the cover 21 is pivotecl to the base.

Integral with the base plae 126 at the opposite end of the same is a similar parallel, upstanding cross member 151). Connecting the two cross members and 159 are two parallel side rails 151 and 152 (Fig. 7).

The base casting 126 has a ledge formed around all tour sides of the exposure opening 141. Formecl integral with the ledge 165 are parallel film guide rails 166 which extend along both sides of the exposure opening 141 and which support the film in its moverncnt from the suppiy to the takeup spoel. Also formed integral with the ledge 165 is a second set of rails 167 parallel to and higher than the rails 166. Between one of: the side rails 167 and the side rails 151 is a groeve 161 (Fig. 10); and between the other rail 167 and the side wall 152 is a groove 163. .Vhen the film carriage is positioned upon the rails 167 the groovcs 110 and 116 (Figs. 6 and 9) of the carriage receive the mating tongues 151 and 152 of the base to form a light-tight fit with the base, and sufiicient clearance is provided between the base of the carriage 22 and the rails 166 to perrnt pas sage therebetween of the film and its backing paper. Thc pressure pad 25 at the same time holcls the fiim in flat condition for exposure.

The cover 21 (Fig. 2) is provided on its inside with rails or ledges along its opposite sides. Parallel Io each of the ledges 175 and spaced therefrom is a rail or ledge 176. Between each pair of parallel rails 175 and 176 there is thus formed a groeve 177. When the cover is closed down, after the film roll carriage 22 is 28, the grooves 177 receive the tongues 109 and 119 of the carriage to form light-tight connections between the cover and the carriage.

A strip of suitable resiliert material 180 is attached by rneans of rivets 181 to the cover plate. These rivets serve also to held the upper section of the hinge 23 to the cover. When the cover is closed the strip 180 fits into the leclge 182 of cross bar 1.45 of casting 126 to form a ligh tight construction. The strip 180 can be made integral with the cover casting 21 if desired.

Attachecl to the cover casting 21 by any suitable means is a second light guard 184 that cooperates with the step 185i (Fig. 7) of the cross bar 150 to assure a light-tight conslruction When the carriage 22 is mounted on the casting 126 and the cover2l is closed.

The cover plate 21 has a flat spring 190 (Fig. 2) secured to it by rneans of screws 191. The spring is separated from the cover 21 a short distance by blocks 192 and 193 which may be integral with cover 21. Spring 1.90 serves to hold the film spool carriage in position on the roll bolder base by pressing downwardly on the upstanding walls 26 and 27 of the film carriage. This lwclds the pressure plate 25 of the carriage in contact with the rails 167 (Fg. 10) of the casting 126, but allows the pressure plate 25 to yield to permit passage of thicker portions of the film such asthe tape which secures in conventional practice the beginning of the sensitized film strip to the backing paper.

To a snitable boss 154 (Fig. 11) on the base casting 126 is fastened by means of rivets 155 the latch plate 1536 This latcl1 plate is adapted to coact with a latch member made up of a series of slides designated generally at (Fig. l) that are secured to the cover 21 by means of shonlder rivets 159. Certain of the plates, that make up sliding latch member 158, are connected to latch operating me1nbers 16 and 161. The cover latch forrns no part of the invention and can be any suitable latch that will hold the cover 21 securely in place.

There is a groove 195 (Fig. 11) in the base plate 125 which is adapted to cooperate with a tongue on the rear of body of a conventional camera to prevent light leakage in between the roll film helder and the camera after the roll holder has been monnted upon the back of the camera. There are ether grooves (not shown), at right angles to groove 195 to receive other tongues of the camera te held the bolder against sidewise movement on the camera and to further prevent light leakage. A rolled portion 7 is provided on the base 125 to provide a gripping surtace for removal of the bolder from the camera.

One way in which the roll holder may be mounted upon the camera back is shown in Fig. 10 of the copendng U. S. patent application of Robert L. Dalto-n, Serial No. ll0,784 filed August 17, 1949, now Patent No. 2,549670 grantecl April 17, 1951.

In use, to load the roll film holder, the film spool carriage 22 is removed from the base member and a fresh roll of film 36 is mounted on and between the studs 34 and 38 (Figs. 5 and 6). The film is then threaded over and around the idler 41, under the pressure plate 255, around the idler 40, and into the take-up spool that is positioned between the stud 33 and the drive key 37. The film is then wound on the take-up spool 35 by means of the winding knob 55 until the indicating arrow that appears on all rolls of film manufactured today, appears. The film spool carriage 22 is then positioned on the base member 20 and the cover 21 is closed over the carriage and latched in place. The dial 70 is then adjusted to the position for the No. 1 exposure. The takeup spool is locked against rotation, When film is in position for exposure, by the locking lever '75. After the first picture has been taken, the photographer presses the projecting portion 78 of the lever 75 to disengage the locking lever. T hen he turns the knob 55 to advance the film. The lever 75 wil] automatically engage the ratchet wheel and stop rotation of feed shaft (Fig.

9) as described in my parent application above men tioned, When the film is in position for the second exposure. Each time that the film is advanced, the counter dial 70 is also rotated to indicate the number of the exposure. the operation proceeds. When the final ex posure has been made, the non-toothed portion of the gear 66 will be in registry with the pinion 62, as described in my parent applcation above mentioned, and the gear 66 will no longer be turned When the knob 55 is rotated. The film trailer can now be vvound on the take-up spool 35. The film bolder is then removed from the camera; the cover 21 is opened; the film carriage 22 is lifted out of the holder; the exposed roll of film is removed from the carriage; a new supply roll is positioned therein; the lead end of its film is secured to the take-up spool 35, as before, the film carriage is restored to the holder; and the holder is then reattached to the camera.

As will be seen from the preceding description a roll film bolder has been disclo-sed that is simple to manufacture and simple to operate. Moreover, loading and 1111 loading of the helder can be eitected easly.

lt will be further understood that while the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is capable of further modification, and this applcation is intended to cover any variatons, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come Withn known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features herenbefore set forth and as fall Within the scope of the inventon or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described rny invention, what I claim is:

1. In a photographic film helder, a base having a central exposure opening extending therethrough from the front of the base to the back thereof, said base having a slot therein between the front and back registering with the exposure opening and extending to one side of the base to receive a dark slide, a film spool carriage removably mounted on the base, said carriage compris ing a bottom plate constituting a pressure pad, and having parallel side walls extending at right angles to the pressure pad, snpporting means journaled in said side walls to rotatably support a film supply spool and a takeup spool, mechanism mounted on the outside of one of said walls for controlling the indexing rotation of the takeup spool, a cover plate secured to the outside of said one side wall to enclose said mechanism, a cover plate secured to the outside of the other side wall, each of said cover plates being so formed that a groove is provided between each cover plate and the adjacent side wall of the carriage around the periphery of the cover plate, a cover hngedly connected at one end to the base and shaped to cover the carriage When the carriage is mounted on the base and the cover is closed thereover, and latch means for securing the cover in closed position, said base being formed with tongues to engage in the portions of said grooves which are contiguous to the base and said cover being formed with tongues which register and interengage with the remaining portions of said grooves When the cover is closed, whereby to form a light-tight fit between base, carriage and cover.

2. A photographic film helder, comprising a base having a central exposnre aperture extending therethrough, and being formed on its inside face with spaced ridges which are parallel to one another and which extend respectively, along opposite, parallel sides of said exposure aperture, a cover hingedly connected at one end to said base, said cover having on its inside surface spaced parallel ridges, a carriage removably mounted on said base and having spaced parallel side walls on the insides of which are mounted axially aligned supports for a film supply spool and axially aligned supports for a film take-up spool, said carriage having a plate extencling between its side walls over which the film is ed from the supply spool to the take-up spool, said plate forming a pressure pad to seat film against said exposure aperture, said carriage being formed with grooves around the peripheres of its side walls which are adapted to interengage with the ridges of said base and said cover, and said base having a ledge thereon at one end thereof, and said cover having a resilient rnember secured thereto at one end thereof to engage said ledge, o form light-tig'nt connections between the carriage, the base, ar.d the cover when the carriage is positioned on the base and the cover is closed down over the carriage, and means for securing the cover to the base in closed position.

3. A photograpbic bolder, comprising a base having a central exposure aperture extending, therethrough, and being formed on is inside face witn spaced ridges which are parallel to one another and which extend, respecvely, along parallel sides of said exposure aperture, a cover bingecily connc-cted at one end to said base, said cover having on its inside surface two pairs of spaced parallel ridges, each pair of vvhich bounds an intermediate groeve, a carriage removably mounted on said base and l1aving spaced side wclls on the insides of which are mounted axially aligned supports for a film supply spool and axially aligned supports for a film take-up spool, said carriage having a plate extending between its side walls over which the film is fed from the supply spool to the take-up spool, said plate forming a pressure pad to seat film against said exposure aperture, said carriage having side cover plates secured to the outsides of its side walls, each side cover plate having a peripheral ridge spaced from the adjaccnt portion of the associated side wall to provide therewitn a peripheral groove around the carriage, said peripheral grooves being disposed to register and interengage wih the ridges of the base and With the ridges and grooves of the cover when the carriage is rnounted on the base and the cover is closed down over the carriage, film transport mechanism mounted betvveen 'one side cover plate and the associated side wall including a rotatable shaft one end of which carries a key that is disposed to drivingly cngage the take-up spool, and a winding knob secured to the other end of said shaft externally of said one side cover plate.

4. A photographic film bolder, comprising a base having a central exposure aperture extending therethrough, and being formed on its inside face with spaced rdges which are parallel to one. another and which extend respectively, along parallel sicles of said exposure aperture, a cover hingedly connected at one end to said base, said cover lmving on its inside surface two pairs of parallel ridges, eacl1 pair of whch bounds an intermediate groove, a carriage rernovably mounted on said base and having spaced side walls en the insides of WlllCll are mounted axially aligned supports for a film supply spool and axially aligned supports for a film take-up spool, said carriage having a plate extending beween its side walls over which the filrn is fed from the supply spool to the take-up spool, said plate forming pressnre pad to seat film against said cxposure aperture, said carriage having side cover plates secured to the outsides of its side walls, eacl1 side cover plate having a peripheral ridge spaced from the adjacent portion of the associated side wall to provide therewith a peripheral groove around the carriage, said peripheral grooves intercngaging with the ridges of the base and with the ridges and the grooves of the cover when the carriage is mounted on the base and the cover is closed down over the carriage, film transport mechanisrn mountecl between one side cover platc and the associated side wall including a rotatable shaft one end of which carries a key tnat is disposed to drivingly engage the takeup spool, and a winding knob secured to the other end of shaft externally of said one side cover plate, a strap spring mounted between the otl1er side cover plate and the side \vall associated with said ether side cover plate, said other side wall having openings therein, and said strap spring constituing a mounting for the supports for one 8 end of both the film supply spool and the film take-up spool, and said openings constituting apertures tnrough which said last-mentioned snpports may project inside of said otner side wall.

5. In a photographic film bolder, a base having a eentral exposure opening extending therethrough from the front of the base to the back thereof, said base having a slot therein between the front and back registering with the exposure opening and extending to one side o the base to receive a dark slide, a film spool carriage rcmovably mounted on the base, rotatable supports on the carriage for a supply spool and a take-up spool, said carriage having a bottom plate constituting a pressure pad te seat the film against the exposure opening and over which film is fed from the supply spool to lhe take-up spool, a pair of rails projecting from the base along the opposite, parallel sides of the exposure opening to support the film in its movement from the supply spool to the take-up spool, a second pair of rails formed on the oase parallel to the first pair of rails and projecting further from said base than said first pair of rails to form a seat for the carriage and provide accurate clearance for the passage of film, a cover hingedly connected at one end to the base, and latch means for securing the cover in the base in closed position to hold the carriage on the base, said base ancl carriage, and said cover and carrage having interengaging portions for preventing light leak age when the cover is closed over the carriage and secured to the base.

6. In a photographic film bolder, a base having a central exposure opening cxtending therethrough from the front of the base to the back thereof, base laing a slot therein between the front ancl back registering wi1h the exposure opening and extending to one side of the base to receive a dark slide, a film spool carriage rcmovably mounted on the base, rotatable suppor-.s on the carriage for a supply spool and a take-np spool, said carrage having a bottom plate constituting a pressnre par] to seat the film against the exposure opening and over which film is fed from the supply spool to the take-up spool, a pair of parallel rails projecting from the base along opposite, parallel sides of the exposure opening to support the film in its nrovement from the supply spool to the take-up spool, a second pair of rails formed on the base parallel to the first pair of rails and spaced furlher apart than said first pair of rails and projecting further from said base than said first pair of rails to form a seat for said carriage and provide accurate clearance for the passage of film, a pair of grooves forrncd in the base parallel to said two pairs of rails and spaced further apart than said second pair of rails, ongues formed on said carriage to engage in said grooves to form a liglit-tglt seal between the base and carriage, a cover hingedly connected at one end to said base, said cover naving grooves formed internally therein and disposecl to increngagc with the tongues of said carriage when the cover is closed over said carriage, a ledge projecting uptvardly from said base at one end thereof and extending transversely of said rails, a resilent member secured to said cover al one end thereof and also extendng transversely of said rails and adapted to fit against said ledge when the cover is closed, to provide light-tight connection between the cover and carriage, a second resilient member secured to the inside of the cover to press on the carriage. when the cover is closed over said carriage, to hold the pressurc plate resiliently in position, ancl means securing the cover to the base to hold the carriage on the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,797 Blair May 27, 1890 1,695,382 McCandless Dec. 18, 1928 1.832,277 Caps Nov. 17, 1931 2,356,284 Stockdale Aug. 22, 1944 2,450841 Moore Oct. 5, 1948 

